The question session, centered on the support for musicians, saw significant engagement from diverse members of the House. The discussions veered around financial stability for grassroots venues, cross-European touring difficulties, and resale ticket pricing issues. The Minister reiterated his commitment to ensuring better support and financial backing for small music venues through a voluntary levy on arena gigs.
Venue Support: The session opened with a focus on the precarious financial situation of grassroots music venues. Lewis Atkinson (Labour), representing Sunderland Central, highlighted the cultural importance of venues like the Bunker and Independent. The Minister promised expediency in implementing the voluntary levy to fund small venues, indicating that millions could be directed towards these efforts.
Highlight of the impact of EU touring restrictions on UK artists.
EU Touring Issues: Pete Wishart (SNP) broached the topic of touring restrictions that impact UK artists' earnings and influence abroad, especially in the EU—a situation unprecedented since 2003. The Minister assured efforts to reinstate touring ease, noting upcoming discussions to potentially reinvigorate UK artists' international presence.
End date for the government's consultation on ticket resale pricing.
Ticket Pricing: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrats) tackled the controversial topic of exorbitant resale ticket prices, invoking the public outrage over recent experiences with Oasis concerts. The ongoing consultation seeks to evaluate resale at face value or with restricted mark-ups, highlighting the Government's accountability in upholding fair practices.
Outcome
Government commitments and next steps:
- Voluntary Levy: An expedited timeline was promised to provide critical financial support to grassroots venues.
- EU Touring Access: Upcoming negotiations aim to facilitate smoother touring opportunities for UK artists across Europe.
- Ticket Resale Consultation: A government conclusion is pending based on the consultation that closes on April 4, reflecting public sentiment on resale value restrictions.
Key Contributions
Highlighted the importance of financial support for grassroots music venues in Sunderland, such as the Bunker, Independent, and Pop Recs.
Expressed the desire for widespread musical involvement among children and financial viability for musicians.
Raised concerns about EU access for UK artists, emphasizing the historical chart absence.
All content derived from official parliamentary records